Mindanao province to copy Suroy-Suroy

Sultan Kudarat province in Mindanao may adopt the Cebu province’s  Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbo rural tourism program, said Rep. Arnulfo Go.

The congressman representing  Sultan Kudarat’s 2nd district made this statement  after seeing a  presentation of the program at the Capitol’s new conference room.

Go, Sultan Kudarat Vice Gov. Ernesto Matias and other provincial and barangay officials paid a courtesy call to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday.

Go told Cebu Daily News that the Suroy-Suroy—a caravan that brings tourists to towns over several days—would encourage local government units to participating in promoting Sultan Kudarat.

“With that move, local officials will be encouraged to develop tourism, eco-tourism,” he said.

Go said his district has plenty of   beaches that could be developed into tourist destinations.

“In my district where coastal areas are predominant, resorts could be developed. But roads have to be developed first,” he said.

“The paving of the road, however, is ongoing in the area. The place has to catch up with development.”

Go said they want to establish sisterhood ties between Cebu and Sultan Kudarat provinces.

“We want to learn more from the programs of Cebu. Based on the presentation of the governor, we have a lot to learn from her,” he said.

However, sisterhood ties have  yet to be discussed with Gov. Soharto Mangudadatu.

Last month, South Cotabato through Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. established  ties with Cebu  province.

Cebu’s  sister provinces are Ilocos Norte, Albay and Antique.

Sultan Kudarat officials invited their Cebu counterparts  to their 38th Charter Day  in Nov. 22.

Sultan Kudarat in southwestern Mindanao was part of the empire province of Cotabato. It was made a province along with Maguindanao and North Cotabato on Nov. 22, l973, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 341 signed by former president  Ferdinand Marcos.